Dukes North-east Premier League: Stockton set to celebrate as team marches to glory

Stockton's Richard Waite has his sights set on title glory this season

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Stockton have been unstoppable for much of the season - their march towards the Dukes North-east Premier League title gathering momentum as the campaign has progressed.

So you might think that when the silverware inevitably arrives at Grangefield, the club will take it in their stride.

But not so, according to Richard Waite.

Even though he has won the title in his years at Chester-le-Street, the 33-year-old Teessider, now back with Stockton, will never have experienced a feeling like it.

“It will mean so much more to me with my home town club,” he said. “It will take a while to sink in. We have waited years for this.”

Stockton face the Durham Academy on Saturday, and go into the game with a lead of 107 points, so the players know that the title is all but in the bag as there are only six games to go.

While Waite has won titles, and been named the league’s Player of the Year at both Stockton and Chester-le-Street, there will be special celebrations at the end of this season, and it’s not about personal glory.

“It will be brilliant for the whole of our club,” he said. “The under-15s and under-13s have won their leagues (the under-15s also reached the national ECB club championship final), so this is for all of us.

“The feeling throughout the whole club is great.

“We’re having such a good year and it’s what everyone has worked for.

“We have reached the T20 finals two years in a row. We didn’t play well in that and didn’t win, but to be so far ahead in the league is outstanding.

“We have been consistent, but never complacent.

“We have never been in this position before, but have handled the pressure really well, and kept winning when all the other teams were out to beat us.

“It takes great mental strength as well as ability.”

Stockton have won 12 times and lost only once in their 16 league games, the fine weather for much of the summer giving them the opportunity to complete games and show their quality.

Their two Durham players Keaton Jennings and Jamie Harrison have been outstanding, but the superb winning run has come from a fine team effort.

Waite added: “We’ve seven first team players who were juniors here. South Northumberland and Chester-le-Street have done so well over the years by keeping the same team together and now we are doing the same.

“We have to make sure this year is not a one-off. We have set the standards now.”

Waite himself is still trying to set new personal goals. “I’m on 39 wickets and I have never had 50 in a season,” he said.

“I’ve had 47 and 48, so I’d love to reach 50.”

The all-rounder has also shone with the bat in many games - though not last week against Hetton Lyons. However the team still won, which shows the strength in depth that has carried the club to the heights.

IN the Darlington Building Society NYSD League leaders Darlington host Middlesbrough, while chasing duo Marton and Richmondshire have away games at Great Ayton and Saltburn respectively.

But it’s ‘eyes on the skies’ because rain is forecast for the west of the region, with the better conditions predicted to be towards the coast.

DURHAM skipper and former England star Paul Collingwod is coming to Yarm on September 9 to conduct a training session with the club’s youngsters as part of the Yorkshire Bank’s sponsorship in the YB40 Cricket Championships.